Happiness is a ghost that’s not worth pursuing

Rafa Euba, a seasoned consultant psychiatrist based in London, was born in the Basque Country, Spain. His journey through the corridors of the mind led him from exclusive private clinics to impoverished slums. As a psychiatrist, he delved into the depths of treatment-resistant depression, unraveling the threads of human suffering.

In his thought-provoking book “You Are Not Meant to Be Happy. So Stop Trying!”, Euba challenges the conventional pursuit of happiness. His words echo like a distant bell, resonating across the crowded streets of our lives:

Euba doesn’t dismiss happiness outright. Instead, he calls it a ghost—a shimmering mirage that flits through our days. We chase it, arms outstretched, but it slips through our fingers. Perhaps, he suggests, it’s time to shift our gaze.

Imagine a compass recalibrating. Euba points us toward wiser pursuits. Not the fleeting highs, but enduring depths. To be useful—to leave footprints that matter. To be honorable—to uphold integrity even when no eyes watch. To be compassionate—to ease others’ burdens.

Here lies the liberation. Happiness needn’t be our sole North Star. Instead, we navigate by constellations of purpose, kindness, and growth. These goals, unlike happiness, don’t vanish at dawn.

Euba’s wisdom isn’t about grim resignation. It’s about contentment—the kind that blooms in small acts of service, in moments of connection, in the quiet satisfaction of a life well-lived.

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